Question

Which verbal description does not match the function f(x)=-1/3x-5?

A. The function value is the difference between x times -1/3 and 5.

B. The function value is 5 less than the product of x and 1/3.

C. The function value is -1/3 of x subtracted from 5.

D. The function value is -1/3 of x decreased by 5.

Answer 1

C

Explanation:

The function f(x) = -1/3x - 5 will be verbally described using the words for the operations of multiplication and subtraction. These words would include difference, product, decrease, subtracted, less than and times. The options include:

A. The function value is the difference between x times -1/3 and 5.

This is the equation since it separates the -1/3x and 5 terms using the word and.

B. The function value is 5 less than the product of x and 1/3.

This is the equation since it separates the -1/3x and 5 terms using the word and.

C. The function value is -1/3 of x subtracted from 5.

This is NOT the equation since it DOES NOT separate the -1/3x and 5 terms using the word and. It also suggests 5 - 1/3x by subtracting from 5.

D. The function value is -1/3 of x decreased by 5.

Though this doesn't use the word and, it separates the -1/3 and 5 terms by the order and still subtracts 5.